Mohammed Rahman (Akky as he is known to many) recently returned from his respite break in Lanzarote where he was accompanied by best friend Suhiol.
The 22 year old from Oldham was left disappointed last year when his break had to be postponed last minute due to health reasons so the trip this time round was all the more special and very much the well deserved break he needed.
However just weeks before his dream break, Akky faced an anxious wait when the volcanic ash cloud hit UK airspace, causing thousands of planes to be grounded and the increasing risk of Akky’s break being postponed again. In a stroke of luck, flights resumed the night before his scheduled respite break and away the pair flew to the beautiful island of Lanzarote.
Akky was diagnosed back in 2008 with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, a cancer of the white blood cells (the cells in the body that normally fight infections) and is accountable for about 75 to 80 percent of the childhood and teenage leukemia’s.
Since his diagnosis, Akky has spent the best part of 3 years in and out of hospital receiving treatments, undergoing tests and attending weekly checkups, which he admits left him feeling drained both physically and mentally.
Last year, when interviewed for the makeabigdifference newsletter, Akky explained that he was mostly looking forward to not having to think about hospitals, treatments and his illness.
His respite break not only gave him that opportunity but also the chance to relax and recuperate in a beautiful and warm environment. It was also the perfect excuse for fun and laughter with his best friend which is evident in his photos.
Here Akky talks us through his Young Heroes experience and explains why he would recommend a respite break to other young people.
“From the start Bev and Rob supported me throughout my holiday, making sure I had access to transport due to my knees. They helped me emotionally as they built my self esteem and morale with their kindness and caring personalities.
I had an amazing time while I was there and was able to forget about my illness thanks to them.
I explored quite alot of the region, again thanks to Rob and Bev for providing me with transport to access areas to explore like the volcanoes and the many different beaches. As I mostly wanted to relax I limited myself to activities.
Although the island is beautiful I mainly enjoyed being away from my normal life of hospital appointments and dealing with my illness.
The villa was outstanding and could not have asked for more, and the supermarket was local enough for me to access, as well the beach.
Over all this experience was amazing, thanks to Bev and Rob, Charlie and Steve. It provided me with an opportunity to relax and leave my worries for a while and enjoy spending time with myself and my best friend.
I would most definitely recommend this to others as it will help them mentally, and enjoy being away from all their troubles even if it is for a week”.